2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. The new standard LED headlights flanked a hexagonal grille, giving the Pacifica a more muscular look compared to its previous elegant design. The rear featured an all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents, were also introduced.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by balancing practicality and luxury. The Pacifica Pinnacle trim, in particular, offered premium features such as quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats. The flat dashboard, anchored by a 10.1-inch touchscreen, included Piano Black plastic trim with wood accents and real metal surrounds, making it one of the poshest minivans available. The doors had a well-weighted feel, and sound deadening technology kept road noise at bay.

The 2022 Honda Passport shared its platform with the Honda Ridgeline, Odyssey, and Pilot, making it a shorter, two-row version of the Pilot with different styling. The Passport's new nose design aimed to give it a tougher look, and it was available in three trims: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, targeted off-road enthusiasts with features like standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes.

Inside, the Passport offered a spacious and comfortable cabin with large, supportive seats and plenty of storage options. The TrailSport trim added orange contrast stitching, amber ambient lighting, and rubber all-season floor mats. The cargo space was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The Passport's driving dynamics were praised for their firm, communicative ride and athletic handling, though the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine paired with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain. The AWD system, new for 2021, activated on-demand based on various driving conditions and deactivated to improve fuel efficiency when not needed.

The Pacifica Hybrid had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with AWD models dropping to 17 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The EX-L trim offered front-wheel drive (FWD), while the TrailSport and Elite trims came with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) AWD system. The i-VTM4 system could deliver up to 70 percent of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when necessary.

The Passport's V6 engine was smooth and responsive, with the EPA rating it at 22 mpg combined for FWD models and 21 mpg for AWD models. The TrailSport trim averaged 21.3 mpg in various driving conditions. The Passport's driving dynamics were praised for their firm ride and athletic handling, though the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and ample storage throughout the cabin. The power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow 'n Go seating system made it easy to accommodate passengers and cargo. The Pacifica Pinnacle trim offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making family travel a breeze.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured large, comfortable seats with leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Passport's interior offered plenty of storage options, including a massive center console storage bin and shelving in the door panels. The cargo space measured 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, making it easy to accommodate passengers and cargo.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering a modern and customizable interface with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option. The Pinnacle trim included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with a rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature. The sound system options ranged from a six-speaker setup to a 20-speaker Harman Kardon system.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services. The Passport's infotainment system was functional but could benefit from an upgrade, with some users preferring to use Apple CarPlay for navigation.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2022 Honda Passport included the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder system, and a seatbelt reminder system. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories but earned four stars for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Passport top ratings in most respects, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.